We'll tread our own path - Mackay

21 April 2013 01:47

Cardiff manager Malky Mackay will not use rivals Swansea as a blueprint for Barclays Premier League success.

The Bluebirds collected the npower Championship title courtesy of a 1-1 draw at Burnley on Saturday. The prospect of a south Wales derby in the top flight is a mouth-watering one but Mackay was reluctant to draw parallels between the clubs and insisted Cardiff will tread their own path.

Asked whether Swansea were an inspiration to his team, he said: "No, not particularly. They've done a fantastic job, have Swansea. I'm very friendly with Brendan Rodgers, who went in there and made a huge impact on that football club, so I know them well, and Michael Laudrup's carried that on."

He added: "Even before that you can look at what Roberto Martinez did there as well. For them to get to the Premier League and do what they've done is fantastic but we've got our own story.

"I've been here two years now and we've got our own way of going forward. We managed to get to the Carling Cup final last year, we managed to make the play-offs and we tweaked the team again in the summer.

"This year the players have been relentless in their nature of wanting to be promoted and be promoted automatically."

As Mackay awaits the rigours of Premier League management, he can be grateful for the presence of friends in high places.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson sent text messages to his fellow Scot before and after Cardiff's decisive midweek stalemate with Charlton.

Mackay pledged to return the favour after lifting the league title - a feat Ferguson looks set to replicate in the near future.

"He's a very busy man but I'll certainly be in contact with him on the phone just to say thank you," he said. "He had a text exchange with me beforehand and a little bit of advice, then obviously congratulated me but alongside a lot of other people."